The Cleveland Browns may not declare a winner in the QB1 race between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson anytime soon. But there is a definitive winner in Chad Ochocinco’s eyes. 

“Deshaun Watson is the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns,” he said as reported by Cleveland Browns on Sports Illustrated. “It is his job to lose. He has six weeks. I guarantee you. He has six weeks to make sure that team is playing above or better than whatever the expectations might be for that team and that quarterback.”

In the Nightcap podcast episode that went live on June 21, the former wide receiver was in conversation with Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson.

The trio was discussing how Watson, who was touted as the definitive QB1, appears to have lost his lead now that Sanders has caught up to him, as the report suggests.

Their conversation stems from another. Browns experts Mary Cay Cabot and Dan Labbe noted the competition has tightened since OTAs.

“Deshaun Watson was decidedly ahead at that point,” Cabot said on the Orange and Brown podcast. “And then Shedeur Sanders went to work and really narrowed the gap.” 

In a June 13 story, Cleveland.com reported their conversation, and Labbe said that head coach Todd Monken is holding onto this competition a little longer. He assessed the situation from a long-drawn hunt to land a reliable play caller this year.

“I think Todd Monken deciding, ‘I’m not going to force this, and we need to see more of these guys. We need to see pads,’” he opined. 

The competition has swung back and forth—Watson led in April, Sanders caught up in OTAs. Cabot opined that the Browns should declare Watson the winner in late April; Sanders’ performance was called “embarrassing” by Monken, but he made noticeable improvements. 

30-year-old Watson, praised for athleticism, has fought hard—but trade rumors about Sanders could change everything.

Shedeur Sanders’ name mentioned in trade rumors: ESPN Cleveland

Chad Ochocinco has firmly stated that Deshaun Watson would be the Browns QB1 this season. His campaign might be successful after all, as Shedeur Sanders is rumored to be on the table for a trade.

On June 22, ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo said that Shedeur Sanders might be traded in the offseason. 

“There are talks, ongoing calls, about the availability of Shedeur Sanders,” he said on his radio program. “The Browns, for whatever reason, don't think he’s the guy; that's my opinion,” he said. “Nothing is imminent, but the calls are being made, and I think it’s probably in the best interest of both parties here.”

If Sanders is traded, Watson becomes an unrivaled QB1. His comeback and Achilles recovery become the season's defining storyline. What are your thoughts? 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar